Nicki Stricker initially didn’t inform anyone in her family about signing up for the U.S. Senior Woman’s Amateur qualification. She wanted to have the challenge all her own for a while.
Stricker and Kathy Hart Wood (sister of Dudley Hart), her mental coach, decided to try to qualify for the USGA Championship to give her practice a purpose.
Stricker, the wife of Steve and mother to Bobbi (25), and Izzi (17), said, “I was getting frustrated because everyone kept kicking me in my house.” She laughed. “I am a competitive person, so I was like what’s going on?”
(Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) Steve Stricker’s caddie, Nicki Stricker of the United States, looks on during the second round at Kiawah Island Resort Ocean Course in Kiawah Island on May 21, 2020. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images).
Nicki Stricker, a former college golfer, was not having much fun at the course. She wanted to be a role model for her daughters. Nicki was not happy with how she treated her self after a poor shot on the course. She knew that both of her daughters were watching, one who played professionally and the other at a high level junior golf.
Nicki’s learning: “The shots that I make, whether they are good or poor, and the scores I get, whether they be good or not, do not define me.”
Wood taught Sticker how to shoot from the three “c’s” – calmness, confidence, and certainty. She would write the letter “c” that she used to hit the ball, rather than numbers on a scorecard.
The 61st U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur will begin on Saturday, and the cards will have numbers. This is the first time Stricker has played in a tournament in over 20 years and it’s also the first USGA Championship since 1992’s U.S. Women’s Amateur held at Kemper Lakes.
Nicki will be alone in Arizona as her family will not be there. She will, however, have Wood who will serve as her caddie.
Nicki has been Steve’s caddie throughout his entire career. Bobbi was a tennis player through high school, but didn’t start playing golf until she went to college. Izzi, who is a senior in high school, won the Wisconsin State Golf Title last year. It is not unusual for the sisters to play their parents.
Bobbi said Golfweek that last year, “The game brings us together.” “We practice with him, we travel with him.”
Steve was taking a lesson at Cherokee Country Club, now TPC Wisconsin the day that they met. Nicki was working as a lifeguard in the club and went to her father’s office after her shift was over. Steve was there.
She recalled that her father had said something. You know the guy that you met? He asked for your phone number.
Nicki decided to finally call Steve after waiting three days and ask him out. Nicki was entering her first year at Wisconsin University and Steve was at Illinois as a junior.
The couple got married in 1993.
Stricker family: Nicki, Steve, Bobbi and Izzi (courtesy Bobbi Stricker)
Steve, who is now a 12-time PGA Tour winner and a 17 time PGA Tour Champions winner, including six titles in this season, has won the 2019 U.S. Senior Open, with Nicki at his side.
Nicki’s time spent caddying for Steve has changed her approach to golf courses, the way she sees green complexes, and how she values short game. She shot a 7-over-par 77 at Glenview Park Golf Club, Illinois, to earn her place in the 132 player field this week. She would love to see if she could advance to the match play stage and find out what happens.
Nicki said that her children are “super proud” of her after a USGA Championship. “Having your child tell you that they are proud of you, obviously warms my soul… and makes me cry a little.”
